Crete

Crete

On Azamara’s nine-night Greek Isles & Adriatic Voyage, you’ll spend a day on Crete, the largest of Greece’s islands. Your base will be Chania, which has a long fascinating history. There was a settlement here during the Minoan era as well as during the classical Greece period and waves of subsequent rulers included Rome, the Byzantine Empire, Arabs, Venetian, and Ottomans.

Azamara’s Akrotiri and Chania Town excursion covers many of the island’s highlights. You’ll visit the British Commonwealth War Cemetery, where 1,527 soldiers who died in the 1941 Battle of Crete are buried. You’ll continue on to the Triada Monastery in Jagarolon, which dates from the end of the Venetian rule of Crete. Then in Chania itself, you’ll see some of the city’s beautiful neoclassical mansions and its Venetian fortifications. At the end of the guided tour, you can continue to explore on your own or return to the ship.

Azamara is committed to longer stays and night touring, so your ship won’t depart until 10 p.m., giving you the chance to return to Chania in the evening when the city is even more charming, its narrow streets illuminated by street lights. The Evening at Gallery of Chania excursion begins with a stroll through town, with your guide taking you to the Municipal Art Gallery for an intimate reception. There the curator will discuss the current exhibition while you enjoy a buffet of appetizers and admire the art on display.

To learn more about this itinerary and other Azamara Club Cruises’ itineraries around the world, visit AFAR Journeys.